A friend of mine sent me a quick little blurb on something I just had to share. It looks like the Cartoon Network has just launched a new set of programs for pre-schoolers called, “Tickle U.” The goal is to teach pre-schoolers how to laugh. Hmmmmmm. Apparently there are others besides me who aren’t quite buying this: from the article “apparently, humor is a skill babies and toddlers are unable to learn on their own without TV.” To me this seems like a blatent marketing vehicle and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood agrees. Do your pre-schoolers really need to watch TV to help them develop a sense of humor or make them laugh? Or is the Cartoon Network simply launching this new vehicle and developing these characters to sell more plush toys, games, food and clothing?
As a producer of children’s media I can’t help but think that this type of content is what gives the people who are really trying to provide solid, enriching, entertaining content a bad name. What do you think?
Posted on August 25th, 2005 by Sam
Filed under: Read This!
Um. I thought laughing at around six to eight months was a not unimportant developmental milestone. And if they’re supposed to be able to laugh, then they must be laughing at something, right? Besides getting tickled. Mine laughs his head off when I make a choking sound, loll my tongue out the side of my mouth and play dead. He laughs at us when we laugh at him. And horse noises make him laugh too.
Don’t kids laugh all the time? Don’t most parents say the sound of kids’ laughter is one of the best sounds in the world?
No, I’m not buying this.
[…] 21;???
I’m reconsidering my position on Comedy Central’s new series, “Tickle U.” As you may remember I posted something about this last week and […]
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